Sealing wax applicator



SEALING WAX APPLICATOR Filed May 25, 1938 Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in sealing wax applicators and more particularly of the self-heating type.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a sealing wax applicator of the above mentioned character including an elongated tube in which is mounted a concentric tube for holding a suicient supply of wax capable of being heated by means of an electric heating element mounted in the lower portion of the elongated tube whereby the device may be continually used without the necessity of frequently re-heating the wax.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sealing wax -applicator of the above mentioned l character' having a pair of electric heating elements which may be controlled thermostatically so that one of the heating elements may be cut oli from the source of current after the wax has reached -a predetermined degree of heat.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a sealing wax applicator of the above mentioned character, having a portion of the elongated casing provided on its lower outer wall with heat dissipating corrugations to prevent excessive heat in the handle portion of the casing.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a thermostat for controlling the heating unit in such a manner that the sealing wax after having reached a predetermined temperature will remain heated by the second heating element.

Other objects and yadvantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description, taken with the drawing, wherein;

Figure l is a side elevational View of the device embodying this invention, illustrating the same supported in a table stand or cup;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same showing the applicator removed from the support or st-and;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the thermostatic switch in detail and showing the manner in which the heating elements are arranged in the lower end of the elongated casing;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional View of the same, taken at right angles to the sectional view of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view illustrating the thermostatic switch elements detached from the casing.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustrating the invention and wherein like reference characters will be employed to designate like parts throughout the same, the reference character 5 will generally be employed to designate an elongated tubular casing including a handle portion 6 and a lower heating chamber portion 'I provided with external heat dissipating corrugations 8. A plug 9 is iitted into the upper 5 end of the handle portion 6 and is provided with an enlarged portion I threaded as at II for receiving a cap I2 having corresponding screw threads I3. A vent bore I4 is provided in the cap I 2 to prevent a vacuum being formed in the seall0 ing Wax container which will be hereinafter fully described.

The lower portion of the elongated casing is provided with a plug I5 having a conical wall I5 terminating in an opening II communicating 15 with a valve chamber I9. A free floating valve of the ball type 29 is mounted in the valve chamber I 9 and is adapted to seat within the opening II communicating therewith.

The valve chamber I9 is formed in a threaded 20 nipple 2I having external threads 22 for receiving the lower threaded end of a concentric tube 23 extending within the elongated casing member 5 and being spaced from the walls thereof, while the upper end of the elongated tubular 25 member 23 is held in the plug 9 as at 24. A perforated disk 25 is mounted in the lower end of the elongated tubular member 23 and is provided with holes or openings 26 for allowing the passage of sealing wax contained in the elongated chamber 23. A coil spring 2l has one of its ends abutting the perforated disk 25 while the opposite end engages the ball valve 29 for normally urging the same toward its seat I1.

Suit-able insulating material 28 may be interposed between the outer elongated casing 5 and the inner concentric tubular member 23 for the purpose of preventing heat from reaching the handle portion 6 which is separated from the corrugated heat dissipating portion I by means of an enlarged annular boss 29 having air circulation openings 30 adapted to prevent the passage of heat upwardly through the handle portion 6 from the heating chamber portion 1.

Surrounding the lower portion of the elongated concentric tube 23 are electric heating elements 3l and 32 which are adapted to heat the lower portion thereof for the purpose of melting the wax and allowing the same to flow through the valve chamber I9 when the ball valve 20 is released from its seat I1 against the tension of the spring 21 as when pressure is applied to the ball valve. Surrounding the elongated tubular sealing wax containing chamber 23 is an annular insulating block 33 to which is attached contact 55 Y connection 3B so that the casing 23 will form the return connection for the circuit. A thermostatic member 39 has one of its ends connected to the concentric elongated tubular member 23 by means of rivets or the like as at il@ so thatJ the free end may ex under heat conditions to; z

cause the contact plate di having contacts i2 to swing into and out of engagement with contacts 43 and ed formed on the free end of the contact fingers 34 and 35 respectively. It is intended to arrange the contact fingers 34 and 35 in-such a Ina-nner that the circuit will be brokenV through the Contact 35 controlling the heating element 32 before the circuit is broken through the contact lll controlling the heating coil 3 l. n this manner, the heating coil 3l may remain in circuit with the source of supply after the heating coil 32 has been cut out of the circuit, such as when the sealing wax in the lower portion of the concentric elongated tubular member 23 reaches .a predetermined temperature. Y

When the device is not in use, it kmay be supported in a tubular stand E mounted on a base as shown in Figure l and it will be noted that the annular boss 29 forms a stop and limits the downward movement of the sealing wax applicatcr within the tubular stand or support 55.

It is to be understood that the contact prongs 3S and 3l may accommodate a conventional type appliance plug connected with a suitable source of current Wherebythe heating coils 3l and 22 will be supplied with sufficient current to cause sealing j wax contained in the concentric elongated tubular member 23 to reach a melting point temperature.` After the wax has been heated to the predetermined degree, it may flow freely through the valve chamber i9 and may be applied to the desired objects by exerting lpressure upon the point 'of the ball valve 2l! thereby causing the unseating,

of the same from the seat Il.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of partsr may be resorted t without departing Yfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

claim:

l. A sealing wax applicator of the character described, comprising an elongated tube having an upper handle portion and alower heat chamber portion, a series of annular corrugations forming a heat dissipating surface on said heat chamber portion, a concentric tube mounted within and spaced from the elongated tube, heat insulating material mounted between the elongated be and concentric tube, a pair of electric heating elements surrounding the lowerrnost portion of the concentric tube and being housed by the heat chamber portion of the elongated tube, heat responsive means for successively controlling the electric heating elements, means for controlling the flow of fluid from the concentric tube and a cap threaded on the upper end of the elongated tube for partially closing the concentric tube.

2. A sealing wax applicator of the character described comprising an elongated tube havingan upper handle portion and a lower heat chamber, a series'of annular corrugations` forming a heat dissipatingsurface on said heat chamber portion, a concentric tube mounted within and spaced from the elongated tube, spacing plugs mounted at each end within the Velongated tube for supporting the concentric tube, heat insulating material mounted between the elongated tube and concentric'tube,V a pair of electric heating elen ments mounted within the heat chamber portion and surrounding the lower end of the concentric tube, thermostatic means responsive to heat changes for successively controlling the electric heating elements and a ball valve mounted in the lowermost plug adapted to be unseated when pressure is applied thereto by contacting a su;- face for controlling the iiow of fluid from the concentric tube.

' FRANCIS M. VAN FLEET. 

